n SWIMMING: Swansea-based swimmer Tom Allen proved there was a new open water Welsh talent after Olympic silver medallist David Davies’ bid for a place at London 2012 took a huge dent.

Allen booked his place in July’s World Championships as he finished as the top British male at the LEN Open Water Cup in Eilat, Israel.

In the men’s 10km race Swansea ITC’s Allen was the fastest Briton.

At the final turning buoy he was joint leader but after the turn found himself in the middle of the pack and was pushed out of the lead to finish 10th with Commonwealth bronze medallist Dan Fogg in 18th ahead of Davies, who finished in 26th, four places ahead of the final Britain Thomas Sunter. The top two fastest Britons, Allen and Fogg, therefore qualified for July’s World Championship in Shanghai which will be the first step on the way to qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics.

Rees in Cardiff tilt at European crown

n BOXING: Gavin Rees will challenge unbeaten Irishman Andrew Murray for the vacant European lightweight crown in Cardiff on June 4, it has been confirmed.

Rees’s promoters Matchroom Sport brokered a deal with Brian Peters Promotions, Murray’s representatives, to stage the contest at the Motorpoint Arena, the venue for the Welshman’s WBA world light-welterweight title triumph in 2007.

Gary Lockett-trained Rees had been the mandatory challenger to John Murray but he vacated the European belt after beating Karim El Ouazghari on points last month.

The summer showdown in Cardiff brings together two men who have just one defeat between them in nearly 60 contests. Murray, 28, from Cavan in the Republic of Ireland, has won all 24 of his professional fights while Rees’ only setback came at the hands of Andriy Kotelnik in the first defence of his world title in 2008 – also at the Motorpoint Arena, then the CIA.